The objectives of this research were to verify the phytophagous arthropods and their predators in 20 accesses of vegetable loofah Luffa sp. (Cucurbitaceae), the distribution of the canopy of the plants in organic system and the production of fruits of the accesses. The experiment was in randomized blocks designed with 20 treatments and four replicates. The treatments were the accesses P159, P304, P466, P03, P570, P569, P467, P30, P446, P495, P125, P263, P644 and P32, from Embrapa (CENARGEN, DF, Brazil) and P01, P02, P04, P05, P06 and P07, obtained in Porteirinha, MG, Brazil. Each plot consisted of four plants Luffa sp. The greatest abundance of Diabrotica speciosa (Germar) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) was observed in leaves of the access P467 in reference to the others accessions of Luffa sp.. Trigona spinipes (Fabricius) (Hymenoptera: Apidae) was observed in most flowers of accesses P01, P03, P30, P32, P263 and P569 and less abundant in accesses P05, P125, P159, P304, P446 and P570. The accesses of Luffa sp. highest number of fruits per plant were P01, P03, P05, P06, P07, P30, P32, P125, P263, P446 and P570. The spiders and predatory Coccinellidae (Coleoptera) and the phytophagous Cicadellidae (Hemiptera) preferred to attack the adaxial side, but no statistical difference was detected between the faces to the other arthropods. T. spinipes was present in the apical part of the plant canopy. With these results, access P06 is the most suitable for cultivation, because it was one of those with higher yields and lower rates of insect attack.
Loofah sponge; Insect; Natural enemies
